Kids get up close with lampreys
By Terry Murry on Friday, April 21st, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
PENDLETON – Kindergarten students from the Pendleton Early Learning Center went on a fishy adventure last week, and they didn’t let a little rain get them down. There were adventures to be had at the Pendleton Accumulation Site of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation Fisheries Program.
Chaperones report the children got to touch small Coho salmon and larger Steelhead salmon held in nets in tanks. That was not, however, the stars of the show according to a report from the Pendleton School District. Top billing went to the Pacific lampreys.
The lampreys, which migrate from fresh water to the ocean as salmon do, were held in a large cooler. Kanim Moses-Conner was their handler.
“When he opened the lid and lifted one of the wriggling fish out, squeals erupted from the young students,” the district reported. “Moses-Conner pointed out the lamprey’s sucker-like mouth, gills, and undulating body, explaining that they are part of an ancient super class of jawless fish that have been on Earth since before the dinosaurs.”
After donning gloves, the kindergarten students got the chance to hold (or simply touch) the lamprey, based on their own comfort levels. In addition to Moses-Conner, others from the fisheries program who were on hand for the field trip included Shaun Montgomery, Aaron Jackson, Ty Minthorn, Paul Sheoships, Jerrid Weaskus, and Easton Powaukee.
Photo from the Pendleton School District
